Mail-printing machine



Nov. 26, 1929.

W. F. SCHWEIGER MAIL PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 25. 1924 16V Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR.

NOV- 26, 1929. I v w. F. scHwElGER i 1,737,339

MAIL PRINTING MACHINE y Filed Feb. 25, 1924 1 6 sheets-sheet 2 a JNVENTOR.

zsATToRNEY NOV. 26, 1929. w, 'F SCHWEIGER 1,737,339

MAIL PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 23, 1924 16 ShebS-Sheet 3 w. F. scHwElGER MAIL PRINTING MACHINE 16 sheets-sheet 4 Nov. 26, 1929.

Filed Fb. 23. 1924 JNVEMTOR.

NOV. 26, 1929 w. F. scHwElGER MAIL PRINTING MACHINE 16 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Feb. 23, 1924 INVENTolg.

Nov. 26, 1929. w. F. scHwElGER 1,737,339 MAIL `PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 25, 1924 `16 Sheets-Sheet r6 54 INVENTQR. jcweger Nov. 26, 1929. -w. F. scHwr-:IGER

Y NAIL PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 23, 1924 16 Sheets-Sheet 7 AWN NN. N Nw. QN ww MNR IN V EN T 'OR.

%zls ATTORNEY Nov. 26, 1929. w. F. scHwx-:IGER

MAIL PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 23, 1924 16 Sheets-Sheet 8 @MN kwh WN www IN V EN TOR.

Nev. 26, 1929.

w. F. 'ScHwElGER MAIL PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 25, 1924 16 Sheets-Sheet 9 Nov. 26, 1929. w. F. scHwElGER MAIL PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 23, 1924 16 Sheets-Sheet 1-0 1NVENToR.

l Myer NOV. 26, 1929. W F, sCHWl-:lGER 1,737,339

MAIL PRINTING MACHINE Filed Feb. 23, 1924 1G ShetS-Sheet ll as l INVENTQR.

NcSv.` 26, 1 929. w. F. scHwElGER 1,737,339

v MAIL PRINTING MACHINE l Filed Feb. 23, 1924 16 SheetS-Sheet 12 538 n y 56j l .362

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IN VEN TOR.

' ATTORNEY Nov. 26, 1929. w. F. scHwElGER MAIL PRINTNG MACHINE 16 Sheets-Sheet 15 Filed Feb. 23, 1924 INVENTolg. v [7W/Zim 225W@ er /LATTORNEY NOV; 26, l929- w. F. scHwElGER 1,737,339

MAIL PRINTINQMACHINE Filed Feb. 25. 1924` l16 sheets-sheet 14 IN V EN TOR. Wmmmmgr Nov. 2e, 1929. W F 'SCHWEIGER 1,737,339

MAIL PRINTING MACHINE Filed. Feb. 25, 1924 16 Sheets-Sheet l5 Nov. 26, 1929.

Filed Feb. 23, 1924 w. F. scHwElGER 1,737,339

MAIL PRINTING MACHINE 16 Sheets-Sheet 16 INVENT'oR.

BY m2 'f Patented Nov. 26, 1929 l mista Mainrnmfrine- MACHINE l Y Application led February 23, 1924. Serial No. 694,702.

My present invention relates to printing machines and more particularly to machines of this kind adapted for the purpose of printing a postage mark upon mail matter under a permit of the postal authorities and in lieu of the application of a separate stamp to the article and the` invention has for its general object to provide a convenient7 serviceable and compact machine of this nature having improved means for safeguarding both the interests of the postal authorities and those of the owner vof the machine. To these and other ends the invention resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts all as will be hereinafter more fully described7 the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

ln thedrawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a mail mark` 20 ing machine constructed in accordance with and illustratingone embodiment of my invention, whatrmay be termed the right side being shown.

Figure 2 is an elevation of the other or left side of the machine.

Figure 3 is atop plan view.

Figure l is an enlarged fragmentary detail section en the line %4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a bottom planview.

Figure 6 is an end view.

Figure 7 is a detached View partly in section of a certain gear train and adjacent parts.

Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional view of part of the envelope moistening mechanism "J5 talren on the line 8 8 of Figure 3.

Figure 9 is an enlarged view partly in section of the water pump and distributor.

Figure 10 is a top view of the moistening device shown in side elevation in Figure 3. Figure 11 is a bottom view thereof talen in the direction of the arrow in Figure 3,

Figure 12 is a sectional view onthe line 12-12 of Figure 11.

Figure 13 is a fragmentary enlarged sec-- tional view on the line 13-13 of Figure 3.

Figure 14 is an enlarged fragmentarysection on the line 11i-14 of Figure 3.

Figure 15 is an enlarged fragmentary sec-V tion on the line 15-15 of'Figure 13.A

Figure 16 is a view similar to Figure 15 Figure 23 is a vsection on the line 23-*23 Figure 13. l I

Figure 21v is a vertical section taken through one of the yparts shown in Figure 23 parallel to the plane of the latter` figure. 4

Figure 25 is a section on the line 25-25 of Figure 13 looking inthe direction of the arrow and in the opposite direction from that of Figure 20in the Vsame plane.

Figure 26 is 'a detail'elevation of a remov' able type locking pin shown in Figure 25.

Figure 27 is a perspective view'of a clutch shell in the mechanism of the printing unit.

Figure 23 is a fragmentary enlarged section on the line 23-28 of. Figure 25.

Figure 29 isdan enlarged horizontal sectional view through the case of the meter mechanism showingthe interior parts in top plan view and ar fragment ofthe adjacent printing unit in central section.

Figure 30 is a fragmentary View similar to Figure 29 Ywith some parts removed and others in a different position.

Figure 31 is an enlarged vertical section through the meter mechanism taken in the plane of the counter worm. i

Figure 32 is a detail view of an eccentric as shown in'Figure 31 but in another position.

Figure 33 is an elevation of a detail of one of theV counter mechanisms.

Figure 34 is al sectional view through the meter case similar to Figure 31 but withvr many of the parts removed to show a particular mechanism. p

Figure is a fragmentary sectional view but with the parts in another position assumed after the removal of the meter from the machine.

.Figure is a fragmentary elevation of locking mechanism for the counters located onthe outside wall of the meter case.

'l Figure 41 is a side view of parts shown in Figure 40.

VFigure 42 is a view from the opposite side of the mechanism shown in Figure 40.

' Figure 43 is a view similar to Figure 42 but with the parts in another position, the lockinfr osition.

Figure 44 is a detail elevation of a detent lock. Y

Figure is `a section taken substantially Y on the line 45-45 of Figure 13.

Aco

Figure 46 is a view similar to Figure 45 but with parts removed and other parts in another position.

Similar reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts.

Inthe present embodiment `of my invention I have illustrated a machine that is adapted to receive a stack of envelopes and to feed them one at a 'time first through a sealing device and then between a printing couple that prints a date and a prepaid cancellation thereon. Connected with the printing couple is a counting and metering device that keeps track of the impressions made. This meter can beset for any desired number of cancellations and when this number 1s exhausted the machine 1s yautomatically y locked against further operation. The meter isthen removed and carried to the postal authorities who, upon payment of a corresponding sum of money reset themeter for the desired further numberofcancellations. Irefer to the impressions made by the printing couple as cancellations merely for convenience as they are not strictly stamp cancellations because no stamps are used but because they are madevin the place and manner Vof a stamp `cancellation though to indicate prepaid postage in lieu of a stamp.

When the meter has recorded the/number of` cancellations that have been paid for, it not only locks the printing couple against further rotation but locks itself. Features of the invention relate to mechanism whereby the printing couple is driven through the meter mechanism and the two elements are mutually controlled by a key that is protected in such a way as to make duplication most diiiicult but the use of a duplicate key without detection impossible. Nevertheless, both the type cylinder and the meter mechanism are independently removable from the machine. v Referring more particularly to ther drawings and principally to Figures 1, 3, 5 and 6 thereof, 1 indicates generally the frame of a table-like support having legs 2 and a top 3. At one end of the latter (and what may be termed the rear thereof) there is an openin g 4 in the table top over which the stack of envelopes to be sealed and cancelled Vis placed being held between a rearward inclined gauge arm 5, a fixed lateral gauge plate 6, and an adjustable lateral gauge plate 7 the mounting of which will be hereinafter referred' to. The gauge arm 5 is extended from an angular flat rod 8 slotted at.9 to receive a threaded post on which it is guided during adjustment and by which it is clamped in place through the use of a threaded clamp nut 10 thereon.

Beneath the forward end yof the opening 4 and atone side thereof so that it comes approximately in the middle of the table is a pulley 11 over which passes a friction belt 12 in the nature of a rubber rope. The pulley 11 is an idle pulley but the belt also passes over a forwardly arranged driving pulley`l3 on a main driving shaft 14 on the end of which is a large pulley 15 connected by a belt 16 with a pulley 17 on the shaft of a motor 19 mounted on thelegs 2y at the rear of and beneath the table. I

The upper reach of the friction belt v12 ispartly above the surface of the table so that the bottom envelope of the pile restsV in Contact therewith and is picked up by the belt and conveyed forwardly while running against a guide rail 20 at the opposite side of the machine. J ust forwardly of the opening 4 a portion of the surfaceof the table is constituted by a flap opening plate 21 the shape of which is clearly shown in` Figures 3 and 5. Its rear edge 22 isboth laterally inclined, ruiming to a point, and beveled on its under sideso it will catch the flap of an advancing envelope which has its folded edge against the guide 20 and spread it downwardly and outwardly. The envelope, during Vthis operation, is held against both the conveying belt 12 and the plate 21 by an idler roll 23 the mounting of which will be later explained.

After passing the pressure roll 23 and traversing the plate 21 with its flap spread downwardly and outwardly to meet the latter the envelope, still under the frictional impelling force of the belt 12, passes beneath the sealing roll 24 and between it and a lower platen roll 25 fixed on the main driving shaftv 14 against which the sealing roll runs.

The latter is an idler; the'additional driving force required at this point in addition to the belt l2 being supplied by its companion roll 25 beneath. The sealing roll 24 is preferably of metal with the corrugated surface shown to insure a sealing contact at a plurality of points along the guinmed edge of the flap while the platen roll 25 prefer to make of a fairly hard rubber. It projects slightly through an opening in a plate 26 arranged forwardly of the plate 2l and the rearward or adjoining edge of which is inclined downwardly as indicated at 27. riihus7 as the flap of the envelope emerges gradually and at a transverse angle from beneath the plate 2l, it is folded up by the incline 27 against the body of the envelope and then drawn between the rollers to receive the sealing pressure.

rlhe rollers 23 and 24 are partially related in their mount-ing being arranged to hav a floating action adapting them to yield to envelopes of unusual thickness and to press uniformly upon the surfaces therecf. Fixed in the vertical guide plate 2O at the left side of the machine is a shaft 28 secured by a nut 29 which shaft extends across and above the path ofthe envelope its free end being on the opposite side of the plate 2l and the belt l2. This free end entends through a slot 30 in a rock arm 3-. Spanning the roel: arm at this point is a bifurcated cylindrical casing 32 fixed on the shaft 28. lit is bored out centrally to receive a sliding plunger or bearing member e3 behind which is a spring 34 beneath a cap 35. rlhe arm 31 is thus mounted for a oint pivotal and vertical bodily movement that gives it a free floating action, the upward movement being yielding against the spring 34.

At its rear end; 'the "arm 3l carries the roller 23 on a stud shaft 36 fixed in the arm. rlhe shaft exten-ds through the latter and its projecting portion is flattened or faced at 3'? and carries a sliding collar 38 having a set screw 39 by which it may be secured at different points. A fixed arm 40 on the collar carries the lateral gauge plate for the stack of envelopes before referred to. Also carried at the rear end of the arm 3l is a fixed shoe 4l having a forwardly and downwardly inclined tip that rides on the carrier belt i2. This shoe is fixed to the arm. Just forwardly of it is a similar shoe 42 pivoted on a stud 43 on the arm 31. lts tip is bifurcated and it is pressed downwardly to straddle the belt by a spring 44 on the stud. These two shoes between them prevent more than one envelope from passing under the roll at one time.

The sealing roll 24 is mounted on the arm 3l at its opposite or forward end on a stud shaft 45 secured to the arm by a nut 46. rlhe said stud shaft and roller raise and lower with this end of the arm but the Opposite end of thest-ud shaft 45 is connected by a link 47 with the fixed stud shaft 28 on both of which it is pivoted. rlhe arm 4"? is pressed downwardly to carry the shaft 45 downwardly and hold the roll 24 against its work by a spring 48 coiled about the shaft 28 and bearing on the link 47.

The result of these arrangements is that as an envelope passes under the roll 23 and it risesj it raises the rear end of the arm 3l on the shaft 45 as a fulcrum against the resistance of the plunger 33. Correspondingly7 the sealing roll 247 as the envelope passes beneath it, may raise the forward end of the arm 3l with the shaft 36 as a fulcrurn. l/Vith envelopes of the same or different thicknesses beneath both rollers the arm 3l is raised bodily at both ends and equalizes itself with its additional pivotal movement.

Flap moz'stem'ng mechanism vconnected at their upper ends as indicated at and plugged at their lower ends by screws 53. 'The well 5l is intersected by a narrow slot 54 opening on the under face of the block. Next forwardly to V`this slot is a parallel groove 55 and-beyond that a body 'i of felt'or similar absorbent and brushing material 56 suitably secured to the face ofthe block.

A detachable water tank 57 is hung bef neath the table on hooks 58 engaging pins 59 on the frame l (Figures l and 2). Def pending into it from a bracket plate 60 on the frame l is an ordinary force pump (il he piston of Vwhich is shownat G2 connected Y drive shaft 14 by which it is operated. The intake is at and the pump discharges through a pipe 66 through a suitable valve the casing of which is indicated at G7 and the discharge from which is indicated at 68. A ley-pass 69 leads from the casing back to the bottom of the tank and by operating the valve handle 'ZO (Figures 5 and 9) the t volume of water pumped through pipe 68 can be increased or diminished. When diminishedthe pressure built up in the valve is reduced through the by-pass 69 and the water returnedto the tank.

The discharge pipe 68 leads into the block 7l near the bottom thereof and communicates with the lower portion of the well 50 which is TNO a crank 63 with an eccentric G4 on the filled thereby. lt is driven over through the connection 52 to the well 5lv fromwhichites- 'lt resilient.

capes in a sheet through the slot 54. As the downwardly angled flap of the envelope reaches the block 71 it is caught by an outstanding guard 72 in the form of a wire yoke having eyes at the lower ends of its arms secured to the block by screws 73. This guard causes the flap to engage the face of the block. The portion of the latter containing the slot 54 is angularly arranged as shown in Figure 12 so that the flap comes in contact with it first and receives a film of water from the slot. It next brushes against the felt 56 which removes the excess of water and wipes it evenly over the gummed surface. After being thus moistened the envelope finally reaches the plate 26, the flap passing out from beneath the plate 21 and rbeing folded upwardly against the bodyof the envelope by the incline 27 and the sealing roll 24 as previously described. y

The printing mechanism From the plate 26 the sealed envelope passes into the printing couple to receive its imprint ory cancellation in the upper right hand corner. Referring more particularly to Figures 1, 6, 7, 13 and14, this printing couple embodies a type cylinder 74 and a printing cylinder 75 the point of printing Contact lietween which is slightly above the level of the table and the previous path of theenvelope. The printing roll 75 is carried on a shaft 76 to which a hub 77 of the roller is pinned at 7 8 and which turns in bearings 79 in the opposite arms of a yoke 80 (Figure 13) which yoke is pivoted to swing on the drive shaft 14 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 14. The yoke extends forwardly far enough to support the printingroll in an over-hanging position beyond the forward end of the table and the inner arm thereofis curved downwardly to clear the end rail of the table frame 1. Also pinned at 81 by its hub 82 tothe shaft 76 is a rubber feed roll 83 cooperating with an upper feed roil 84 to positively feed the envelope while it is being printed.

Below the overhanging portion of the yoke 80 at the forward end of the table is a bracket 85 having two tubular guides 86 rising' therefrom Vand containing supporting postsv 87 (Figure 14) adapted to slider vertically there- The posts rest upon springs 88 coiled about reduced portions 89 thereof and acting against adjacent shoulders an d the bottoms of the guides, respectively, so that the posts are They bear at their upper ends against inturned flanges 90 on the yoke 80 and, the compression springs 88 being normally flexed, they apply an upward pressure on the yoke that holds the feed roll 83 in contact with its companion roll 84 and the printing roll 75 in contact with the type roll 74, ...t

least when the type is at the printing point.

The printing cylinder and the feed roll 84 acentto it are removable as a unit from the machine as willbe hereinafter described and' to permit such a removal 1t 1s necessary to` lower the printing roll 75 and the feed roll 83 out of Contact. I therefore provide the swinging yoke 80 as a mount for these parts and also means for holding it depressed while the printine couple is being manipulated. To this end the reduced portion 89 of each post 87 extends through the bottom of the guide and terminates in a head 91 on the under side of the bracket 85. Referring to Figures 5 and 6, a slotted latch plate 92 is guided on headed pins 93 on the under side of the bracket-and its wings are provided with downwardly turned lugs 94 see also Figure 1). When the yoke 80 is depressed to lower the rolls 75 and 83, the latch plate 92 is drawn forwardly by means of a finger piece 95 and the lug 94 engage beneath the heads 91 thereby holding the springs 88 compressed and the posts retracted.

As before mentioned the printing element including the type cylinders 74 is independently detachable from the machine. Referring more particularly to Figure 13, there is secured to a pertion of the frame l by screws 96 a casting 97 constituting a socket member having a circular socket 98 therein provided with a locking pin 99. In this socket is fitted a type casing 100 suitably grooved at its inner ends to form a bayonet joint with the locking pin 99, the casing being inserted with a combined longitudinal and rotary motion. The casing 100 is in the form of a shell that is cylindrical and open on its under side. Toits outer end is secured a bearing member 101, and there is also an intermediate bearing member 102i Turning in these bearings is soy -loov a shaft 103 to which the typev cylinder 74 is pinned at 104, and on which the feed roll 84 turns freely as driven by the feedfroll 83. This feed roll 84 is hollow and in its interior is a quantity of absorbent material 105 that is saturated with oil which seeps through openings 106 in the bearing hub 107 on which the roll turns and lubricates the shaft.

Centrally arranged in the inner end or butt of the shell or casing is a lock cylinder 108 with spring pressed tumblers 109 in the manner of an ordinary Yale lock and adapted to Abe controlled by a key of that nature to be hereinafter referred to. The end of the cylinder has an enlargement 109a on an end projecting into the shell on which enlargement is transverse key 110 that interlocks the cylinder with the slotted end 111 of shaft 103 so the latter is adapted to be driven through the lock cylinder or vice versa. Splined to the sha-t 103 at 112 is an inner clutch element 113 cooperating with an outer clutch element- 114 that has a direct bearing inthe shell as shown. These clutch elements will be later described in detail, the present object being to explain that 114 is the driving clutch member which through the inner clutch member 113 turns the 

